Unofficial count: No Palawan split

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines — The province of Palawan is likely to remain intact as partial unofficial count of the votes cast on the plebiscite on Saturday showed that majority of the residents gave a resounding no to the law seeking to split the province into three.

The no vote dominated the plebiscite result, with 122,922 voting against the split and 84,402, voting yes for the division, based on partial unofficial count of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting in all 23 towns of the province.

The provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) convened at 2 p.m. on Sunday but adjourned less than an hour later after certifying election returns in only two towns, Narra and Brooke’s Point. The PBOC is set to reconvene on Monday for the final and official count.

Narra residents cast 11,816 votes against ratifying Republic Act No. 11259, the law dividing the province into Palawan Del Norte, Palawan Del Sur, and Palawan Oriental, while 6,454 were in favor. The margin was slim in Brooke’s Point, with 12,042 voting no and 11,816 voting yes.

Winners, losers

Cynthia Sumagaysay-del ­Rosario, lead campaigner for the One Palawan Movement, said they were ecstatic by the result because they had to fight the “Goliaths” in local politics who supported the split.

On Sunday morning, Brooke’s Point Mayor Jean Feliciano, one of the campaigners for the yes vote, conceded defeat, acknowledging they lost by about 200 votes.

Brooke’s Point was one of the towns that the yes campaign was expected to win as it had been designated to be the capital of Palawan Del Sur and the main growth area for the planned new provinces, considering its link to the potential markets of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East Asia Growth Area) countries.

Provincial board member Ryan Maminta, another prosplit advocate, also conceded loss, saying he “accepts, respects, and honors the decision of the majority.”

The Commission on Elections has earlier declared the electoral exercise a success, especially with its adherence to health protocols related to the coronavirus disease. INQ